Sexual behavior activates the expression of the immediate early genes c-fos and Zenk (egr-1) in catecholaminergic neurons of male Japanese quail
Section snippets
Experimental procedures
Experiments described in this paper were carried out on Japanese quail (C. japonica) which were bought from a local breeder (C. Dujardin Farm, Liernu, Belgium) at the age of about 3 weeks. Throughout their life at the breeding colony and in the laboratory, birds were exposed to a photoperiod simulating long days (16 h light and 8 h dark per day) and had food and water available ad libitum. All experimental procedures were in agreement with the Belgian laws on “Protection and Welfare of Animals”
Behavioral results
When presented to a female during the 1 h test preceding kill, males with elevated T levels (I+F and CX+T+F birds) showed the complete male-typical copulatory sequence including neck grabs (NG), mount attempts (MA), mounts (M) and finally cloacal contact movements (CCM) leading to ejaculation (see description in Adkins and Adler, 1972; Hutchison, 1978). Moreover, these males displayed elevated frequencies of strutting, a pre- and post-copulatory display. These behaviors were never observed in
Discussion
The present study demonstrates an intense and reliable increase in the expression of two IEG c-fos and Zenk in the brain of intact male Japanese quail and T-treated castrated males after they engaged in sexual behavior. This increase was quantitatively established in at least six nuclei that appear therefore to be directly or indirectly involved in the expression of copulation: the MPOA (POM), the BSTM, the AM, the ICo, and two of the main dopaminergic areas, the PAG and the VTA. This induction
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by grants from the NIMH (MH50388) to G.F.B. and J.B. and grants from the Belgian FRFC (2.4555.01), the French Community of Belgium (ARC 99/04-241), and the University of Liege (Fonds Spéciaux pour la Recherche) to J.B. T.D.C. is a FRIA Grant recipient.
References (95)
- et al.
Preoptic aromatase cells project to the mesencephalic central gray in the male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)
Horm Behav
(2001) - et al.
Distribution and effects of testosterone on aromatase mRNA in the quail forebraina non-radioactive in situ hybridization study
J Chem Neuroanat
(1998) - et al.
Implication of testosterone metabolism in the control of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the quail preoptic area
Brain Res Bull
(1993) - et al.
Sexual differentiation of odor and partner preference in the rat
Physiol Behav
(1996) - et al.
Neonatal inhibition of brain estrogen synthesis alters adult neural fos responses to mating and pheromonal stimulation in the male rat
Neuroscience
(1996) - et al.
Estradiol contributes to the postnatal demasculinization of female Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)
Horm Behav
(1984) - et al.
Brain aromatase and the control of male sexual behavior
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol
(1993) - et al.
New insights into the regulation and function of brain estrogen synthase (aromatase)
Trends Neurosci
(1998) - et al.
Sexual differences in the Japanese quailbehavior, morphology and intracellular metabolism of testosterone
Gen Comp Endocrinol
(1983) - et al.
Distribution of estrogen receptors in the brain of the Japanese quailan immunocytochemical study
Brain Res
(1989)
Aromatase as a cellular marker of testosterone action in the preoptic area
Physiol Behav
Increased expression of c-fos in the medial preoptic area after mating in male ratsrole of afferent inputs from the medial amygdala and midbrain central tegmental field
Neuroscience
Pharmacological analysis of male rat sexual behavior
Neurosci Biobehav Rev
Dopamine functions in appetitive and defensive behaviours
Prog Neurobiol
The expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos, egr-1 and c-jun in the accessory olfactory bulb during the formation of an olfactory memory in mice
Neuroscience
Connections of the dorsomedial part of the nucleus intercollicularis in a male non-songbird, the Grey partridgea tract-tracing study
Neurosci Lett
Gonadal-GABAergic interaction is an important factor involved in photoperiod-induced 2-[125I] iodomelatonin binding changes in the Japanese quail brain
Brain Res Bull
Validation of a new antiserum directed towards the synthetic c-terminus of the FOS protein in avian speciesimmunological, physiological and behavioral evidence
J Neurosci Methods
Changes in male copulatory behavior after sexual exciting stimulieffects of medial amygdala lesions
Physiol Behav
Effect of the presence of females on the pituitary-testicular activity in male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)
Gen Comp Endocrinol
Performance of appetitive or consummatory components of male sexual behavior is mediated by different brain areasa 2-deoxyglucose autoradiographic study
Neuroscience
Critical re-examination of the distribution of aromatase-immunoreactive cells in the quail forebrain using antibodies raised against human placental aromatase and against the recombinant quail, mouse or human enzyme
J Chem Neuroanat
Androgen receptor and mating-induced Fos immunoreactivity are co-localized in limbic and midbrain neurons that project to the male rat medial preoptic area
Brain Res
c-Fos immunoreactivity in the sexually dimorphic area of the hypothalamus and related brain regions of male gerbils after exposure to sex-related stimuli or performance of specific sexual behaviors
Neuroscience
c-Fos and related immediate early gene products as markers for neuronal activity in neuroendocrine systems
Front Neuroendocrinol
Hormonal differentiation of sexual behavior in Japanese quail
Horm Behav
Copulation activates Fos-like immunoreactivity in the male quail forebrain
Behav Brain Res
The organization of preoptic-medullary circuits in the male ratevidence for interconnectivity of neural structures involved in reproductive behavior, antinociception and cardiovascular regulation
Neuroscience
Excitotoxic amino acid injections into the medial amygdala facilitate maternal behavior in virgin female rats
Horm Behav
Expression of c-fos, fos B, and egr-1 in the medial preoptic area and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis during maternal behavior in rats
Brain Res
The sexually dimorphic medial preoptic nucleus of quaila key brain area mediating steroid action on male sexual behavior
Front Neuroendocrinol
Sexual stimulation activates c-fos within estrogen-concentrating regions of the female rat forebrain
Brain Res
Sexual behavior increases c-fos expression in the forebrain of the male rat
Brain Res
Midbrain vocalization centers in birds
Trends Neurosci
Fos induction in the Japanese quail brain after expression of appetitive and consummatory aspects of male sexual behavior
Brain Res Bull
Neural activation following sexual behavior in the male and female rat brain
Behav Brain Res
Mating activates androgen receptor-containing neurons in chemosensory pathways of the male Syrian hamster brain
Brain Res
The archistriatum of the pigeonorganization of afferent and efferent connections
Brain Res
Effects of lesions of nucleus taeniae on appetitive and consummatory aspects of male sexual behavior in Japanese quail
Brain Behav Evol
Hormonal control of behavior in the Japanese quail
J Comp Physiol Psychol
Midbrain regions involved in call production of Japanese quail
Experientia
Colocalization of tyrosine hydroxylase and Fos in the male Syrian hamster brain following different states of arousal
J Neurobiol
Anatomical and neurochemical definition of the nucleus of the stria terminalis in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)
J Comp Neurol
The catecholaminergic system of the quail brainimmunocytochemical studies of dopamine beta-hydroxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase
J Comp Neurol
Neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating reproductive cycles and reproductive behavior in birds
Induction of the Zenk protein after sexual interactions in male Japanese quail
Neuroreport
Identification of catecholaminergic inputs to and outputs from aromatase-containing brain areas of the Japanese quail by tract tracing combined with tyrosine hydroxylase immunocytochemistry
J Comp Neurol
Cited by (79)
Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone as a regulator of social interactions in vertebrates
2022, Frontiers in NeuroendocrinologyCitation Excerpt :Crowing is one of the most characteristic sexual behaviors performed by sexually mature male quail to attract females (Deregnaucourt et al., 2009; Goodson and Adkins-Regan, 1997). The performance of crowing is context-dependent so when males are in the presence of a female, they instantly stop crowing and actively approach her for copulation (Charlier et al., 2005; Domjan and Nash, 1988; Meddle et al., 1997; Moreau, 1951; Tobari et al., 2017b). The presence of a female is sufficient to suppress male crowing and the neurochemical pathway that inhibits crowing in response to the presence of females has yet to be identified.
Noradrenergic alpha-2A receptor activation suppresses courtship vocalization in male Japanese quail
2021, Behavioural Brain ResearchFos expression in the medial preoptic area and nucleus accumbens of female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) after maternal induction and interaction with chicks
2021, Physiology and BehaviorCitation Excerpt :That is, high levels Fos in experienced females could reflect the chicks’ positive valence, while in inexperienced females the same levels of Fos could reflect the salience of chicks and even be involved in initiating the positively-valenced process of maternal sensitization. The mPOA is central to processing information not only related to young, but also other social and environmental cues, such those involved in aggressive and sexual behaviors (e.g., Charlier et al., 2005, Robertson et al., 1991; Smith and Pfaus, 1997; Gobrogge et al., 2007). It remains to be determined what specific subregion(s) of the mPOA and or specific cell type(s) are specifically stimulated and required to process any defined sensory information.
A role for endogenous opiates in incubation behavior in ring neck doves (Streptopelia risoria)
2021, Behavioural Brain Research